A recent study has indicated that an innovative method for producing fuels from leftover fats could generate biofuels that perform as well as diesel, and it is 1000 times more efficient than existing techniques.
A recent study has indicated that an innovative method for producing fuels from leftover fats could generate biofuels that perform as well as diesel, and it is 1000 times more efficient than existing techniques.
In a study published in the journal Green Chemistry, researchers from King’s College London and the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory employed enzymes to convert the fatty acids in cooking oil into alkenes, the essential components for fuels like gasoline and diesel. The scientists aim to utilize this new renewable fuel, derived from unused food waste, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Biofuels encompass a variety of energy sources created from renewable organic materials originating from plants or animals, such as vegetable oil. Those that can effectively replace gasoline or diesel in standard combustion engines are promoted as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, with fuels sourced from food waste potentially decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 94%.
Generally, these fuels possess a high content of oxygen molecules which results in inefficient combustion. This inefficiency has previously hindered widespread adoption, as the energy produced from burning biofuels derived from fatty acids is only 90% of that generated from diesel. To produce diesel-equivalent fuels, additional raw materials are required, leading to costs that can be twice that of fossil fuels.
Dr. Alex Brogan, a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at King’s College London, remarked, “As a child, I recall seeing canisters of oil outside fish and chip shops, soon to be mixed with diesel and used in vehicles— for a long time, the oily smell and dubious legality were all that people associated with biofuels.”
“Nonetheless, they are crucial for industries like logistics to move away from fossil fuels. Without substantial investment in this technology, countries such as the UK will find it increasingly challenging to meet their emission targets. What we’ve developed is chemically akin to the fossil fuels we commonly use today, fulfilling all the standards that the chip shop fat of the past could not.”
To engineer a more effective fuel with higher active alkene content, researchers modified an enzyme named P450 decarboxylase to degrade the fatty acids present in food waste and extract the oxygen contained within.
This enzyme typically requires water, leading to low alkene yield. To address this limitation, the modified enzyme was placed in a liquid salt while being exposed to UV light during its mixing with fatty acids, activating the reaction. This approach yielded significantly more alkenes compared to traditional water-based methods. The enhanced efficiency means that producing this fuel consumes less energy and fewer raw materials, significantly improving its sustainability.
Furthermore, being a biological catalyst, the enzyme eliminates the need for conventional catalysts like platinum, which can cause environmental harm due to mining activities. The application of UV light also avoids the necessity of toxic chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide to facilitate the reaction.
Dr. Leticia Zanphorlin, Principal Investigator at the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory, stated, “Our (bio)technology opens new avenues for utilizing other renewable materials and producing various fuels, including gasoline and kerosene for the aviation industry. We acknowledge that significant work lies ahead and are eager to help tackle one of the world’s most pressing issues: climate change.”
The team aspires that by finding ways around the P450 enzyme family’s water requirement, they can apply this technology to enhance chemical reactions across different sectors, including the efficient production of pharmaceuticals.
